Quality family time

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The modern day lifestyle is pretty hectic. With one child going off to football practice and another at a swimming lesson, it doesn’t leave much time for gathering round the dining table to enjoy a family meal.

If you are restricted for time and are looking for quick meals, a pasta dish is the perfect option. Most recipes are simple and can be put together in under half an hour. Then you can put your feet up and enjoy some peace and quiet before the next hectic day begins.

Cooking on a budget

Alongside its quick and easy preparation, pasta is also very cheap to buy. Popular sites such as Super Savvy Me offer plenty of advice on cooking with this ingredient and it is often claimed that even the basic ranges in most supermarkets don’t taste much different from branded versions – so buy a large pack and keep it in your cupboard!

You can mix it up using different meats or adapt the dish around whatever’s in your freezer. Use bacon if you’re on a budget; mince or chicken if you’ve got people over for dinner. Remember to add plenty of vegetables and a suitable sauce. Again, these are available in numerous forms so you’re sure to find something tasty and affordable at your local store.

Take the stress out of a dinner party by precooking a pasta dish and heating it up in the oven when your guests arrive. Even just mixing pasta with chopped tomatoes and vegetables is a tasty and nutritious meal.

The best thing about pasta is that you can shove pretty much anything into it and it won’t look out of place. That half a pepper which is going a bit soft, those few lonely mushrooms rolling about in the bottom of the fridge; you can chuck it all in.

Additional benefits are that it is very filling, so you’ll be less tempted to snack during the evening. It’s also full of carbohydrates, giving your little ones the energy they need for their extracurricular activities.

Finding recipes

Super savvy me has loads of ideas for pasta recipes for healthy children on their website. Check out their Chicken Pasta Supper, which is bound to appeal to all your family’s taste buds and only takes an hour to prepare. Swap the chicken for turkey if looking for a lower fat option. If you only have a few leftover sausages lying around, then try out the popular sausage casserole and bulk it out with a tin of beans.

Perfect party dish

Most kids love pasta, so why not think about making a big pasta dish for your child’s birthday rather than the usual sugary party food? The other parents will surely thank you for it, as their offspring can escape the dreaded sugar crash.

You could even use it for your own grown up parties. Make it in a large pot on bonfire night and let everyone help themselves. Add some chilli flakes to help warm the cockles as you stand in awe watching at the firework display.